Kings Canyon – A Sunrise Walk

19/03/2018

Us wouldn’t be us without some activity on our travels. So we decided to visit one more point of interest before going to Uluru. A lesser known landform in Watarraka National Park – Kings Canyon. The walls of Kings Canyon are above 100 meters high, with Kings Creek at the bottom. Also, part of the gorge is sacred Aboriginal site, so visitors are advised to stay on marked paths (always show respect!). The Canyon has two main walking trails: the easy one, 2km long, and the more challenging – a 6km Rim Walk. We knew beforehand that there are several options, so when we arrived early in the morning (a good tip for hiking – you will see a beautiful sunrise and will avoid the heat of a midday, when the walk can be closed), we immediately went for the hike. I have to be honest with you – we had more strenuous hikes before, so this was more like a walk in the park, haha. A nice, relaxing, but very windy walk (my hair was all over the place 😀 ). The sun was out, though, so all okay. We hiked the steep part quite fast, and after that we just enjoyed the sunrise above the Canyon. It was so interesting to see the changing colours on the rock formations! This is what I love about nature – it surprises you every time. About half way during the walk, there is a path to the Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole surrounded by plant life – also, another beautiful sight!

Kings Canyon Rim Walk in numbers:*

Distance: 6 km.Time: 3-4 hours.Start/Finish: Kings Canyon car park.Best Season: Winter is not as hot as summer, and after rain is ideal, when waterfalls are flowing and there is plenty of new growth and wildlife around.Nearest towns: Uluru/Yulara (300 km) and Glen Helen (260 km).Maps: Not necessary; follow the blue arrow markers on posts.Food/drink: Carry a litre of water for each hour you expect to be walking.